Back in 1902, there was a rumble in St Mark’s Square. Onlookers watched in
terror as the huge red-brick Campanile (bell tower) collapsed in a roar of
rubble. Miraculously, no one was injured and the sole fatality was the
caretaker’s cat. To prevent a repeat performance, authorities in Venice have
spent five years inserting titanium bars and bolstering the foundations.
Cracks had been appearing in the masonry and the 99m tower was slowly
sinking.

Finally the scaffolding has been removed from around the base and the famous
square is back to its best, just in time for the Biennale International